Hasselt-Zolder, Belgium, October 8-13, 2002

Day 1 - October 8: Junior Women Time Trial, 11.2 km

Italians open with gold and silver

Italy has started its World Championships campign in the best possible manner,
placing first and second in the Junior Women's Time Trial, held over 11.2 km
between Hasselt and Zolder. The winner was Anna Zugno, who burst into tears
moments after crossing the line as she was mobbed by the media. Zugno had started
second last, but knew when she crossed the line that she had the winning time
of 15'54.21, an average speed of 42.255 km/h. She eclipsed her teammate Tatiana
Guderzo's time by 6.5 seconds, meaning that the Italians gained gold and silver
in the first event of the World's. Third and fourth places went to German riders
Claudia Hecht and Luise Keller, who were 7.2 and 18.3 seconds back respectively.

The time trial was held in cool (10-12 degrees), dry and slightly misty conditions,
over a shorter course than the 15 km that was advertised. Starting in Hasselt's
Kolonel Dusartplein, the junior women navigated their way around both inner
and outer rings of the city, before heading out towards the Zolder circuit,
a total of 11.2 km. There were two small rises along the circuit, and a light
tail/crosswind.

The early time to beat was that of Australian Alexis Rhodes, who started fourth
and finished in 16'38.81, eventually good enough to give her 11th place. Dutch
rider Chrisa Pirard knocked 26 seconds off this, after going through 7.6 km
in 10'37.52 and finishing in 16'12.88. She was followed by Germany's Luise Keller,
who was four seconds slower at 7.6 km but finished strongly to record 16'12.54.

Then the first of the Italian riders, Tatiana Guderzo came through. She was
a little slower than Pirard's time at 7.6 km, but again finished really well
to go close to breaking the 16 minute barrier. Her time of 16'00.75 was good
enough to give her the silver medal eventually. Germany's Claudia Hecht looked
like breaking it, after being 7 seconds faster at 7.6 km, but the last third
of the course again proved to be crucial, with the small climb to the Zolder
circuit having enough in it to hurt those who had gone out too hard. Hecht was
only 0.7 seconds slower than Guderzo, who maintained the top position with 12
riders to come.

None of the remaining riders looked like threatening her time until her teammate
Anna Zugno started. Zugno was a 0.7 seconds faster at 7.6 km, and rode a great
second half to finish well under 16 minutes in 15'54.21, easily better than
the sole rider behind her Svetlana Sergeeva (Rus) who could only do 17'13.96.

Zugno was still in tears as she celebrated her medal on the podium, delighted
with what she had achieved at this World Championships. Italy couldn't have
asked for a better start.